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Son of Ingagi (1940)

House of Horror


Cast:

Zack Williams is N'Gina
Laura Bowman is Dr. Helen Jackson
Alfred Grant is Robert Lindsay
Daisy Bufford is Eleanor Lindsay
Arthur Ray is Zeno Jackson


What the box says:

Ape shaped horror lurks beneath the surface of a sleepy little town, in this campy classic that many claim is the first "all black" horror film. A newlywed couple inherits the weird house of one of their wedding guests - as well as the ape man that lives in the basement!


Plot:

Bob and Lindsey just get married.


Nothing is going to tear us apart, be it bees, spiders, or scientifically enhanced super gorillas..
Outside the church, Dr Helen Jackson talks with Bradshaw, an attorney, about fixing her will.

The newly married couple is partying. Dr. Jackson spies on them from outside. Suddenly, the town’s foundry starts to catch fire. While Bob goes to check to see if he still has a job. Lindsey stays behind when Dr. Jackson pays her a visit. The curmudgeonly, doctor seems impressed about being invited to the wedding. She knew Lindsey’s parents before they were married. Bob returns from realizing the foundry was totally burnt, leaving him without a job.

Returning home, Dr. Jackson finds her convict brother, Zeno, wanting the gold she brought back from a safari to Africa. Apparently, Helen summons her gorilla monster to sneak up her brother which scares him away.


At least, I'm not as embarrassing as Ro-Man from Robot Monster.

Bob and Lindsey find a letter on the house floor from Dr. Jackson.

Jackson is working in her lab. Finishing her great work, the gorilla-monster starts trashing the lab and chokes her. Bob and Lindsey find Dr. Jackson’s body in the room.

Apparently, Jackson’s will deeds the house to Lindsey provided they live in the house. Cops suspect Bob is involved with the death.

Bradshaw is trying to wheel and deal his way and get some money from Lindsey. However, Bradshaw summons the gorilla-monster who chokes him. Bob returns and finds Bradshaw’s body. Let the newspaper montage ensue.

Police detective Nelson is chewed out by the chief. Nelson will stay at the house.


This looks like a clue..Good thing I graduated from the Fred School of Detection...
Later, Zeno sneaks into the house, struggles with Bob. Lindsey inadvertently clocks Bob in the head.

Zeno skulks about the house but so is the gorilla. Nelson fixes a sandwich and is unaware of the gorilla stealing it from him repeatedly. Zeno finds the hidden lab and the gold. He shoots the gorilla which only angers him enough to choke Zeno.


Look deep into my eyes. You're getting sleepy, verrrrrry sleeeeepyyy..
Elsewhere, Lindsey faints when sees the gorilla. He carries her to the lab. The gorilla accidentally sets the lab on fire.

Nelson finds the dead Zeno. Bob is pretty distraught when he learns that Lindsey is gone. He spots the smoke, rushes into the lab and finds her. Bob is able to lock the gorilla in the cage and escapes the lab with her.

Let the burning stock footage house ensue. The police arrive. Lindsey worries about what they’re going to do without their house and furniture, etc…Nelson is able to escape. He’s carrying a couple bags of gold and hands them to Bob and Lindsey.


What I say:

Most B-movie fans are aware of the 1970s Blaxsploitation movies like Black Caesar, Shaft, or any of Pam Grier's movies. Had heard about how some low budget movies including westerns were reshot with all-black casts. However, Son of Ingagi is supposed to be the first all-black horror movie created by African-American filmmakers. This is the kind of movie that thankfully doesn't quite have much of the bad-sidekick humor like King of the Zombies. To have a bunch of characters that don't have eyes bugging out and screaming like the proverbial little girls terrified at any sound is almost a miracle.

Doubt that evolution was the main reason of gorillas in movies. After King Kong and Might Joe Young, Hollywood wanted more gorilla movies. At the same time, we saw the rise of Tarzan movies or the lesser known ones jungle adventures like White Pongo or Bela Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla. A movie needs more than just a gorilla for example a ninja or a gaggle of ninjas..

Many of the sci-fi/horror movies have scientists either disguising themselves as gorillas or turning into them because of science that has gone awry ala Boris Karloff's Ape or Bela Lugosi's Ape Man. Most 1940 mad scientists are more in the Frankenstein vein of science to tamper in realms best left untampered. Dr. Helen Jackson is the mad scientist or to be more accurate the more bitter and moderately annoyed scientist. We never really given any idea of what she's researching other than it is SOMETHING IMPORTANT...The way the science part is almost entirely ignored after her death is just not even a Macguffin...

The gorilla was brought back from Africa. Science turns the gorilla into some kind of gorilla-human hybrid. Somehow it was experimented on until it became something that was a guy wearing probably the worst ape mask ever. Maybe, our good doctor was inspired by Dr. Herbert Wyndam...(You must allow me one Marvel Comics High Evolutionary in-joke..)

The name, Son of Ingagi, came from Ingagi, a exploitive movie from the 1930s. Ingagi used stock footage which was used to appear as a documentary of Africa. Later, it was discovered that it's original scenes were shot in deepest darkest California using Hollywood performers. After it was a blockbuster, the pop-culture reference of it popped up all over the place.



2 1/2 NINJAS

Quotable Dialogue

"I don't like detectives, especially fat ones."
"What you think is none of my business."
"I don't want to go backion uniform."


Morals of the Story

Divorce attorneys love to help out newlyweds.
Mansions only have 1 bedroom.
Gorillas love sandwiches.
Revolvers have 10 shots.


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